Hall of Fame season continues as on the eve of NBA All-Star Weekend, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the Finalists for the 2025 Class.

The Hall made waves when they recently altered (again) the requirements, moving the eligibility limits to two years from three years.

This altered the landscape, as their were no surefire entrant for this year’s class.

The Finalists are:

2008 United States Olympic Team (TEA).  Coached by Mike Krzyzewski (with Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan, and Mike D’Antoni), the United States beat Spain in the finals.  The roster included Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, and Carmelo Anthony.

Dusan Ivkovic (PLA).  A FIBA Hall of Fame inductee, Ivkovic played ten seasons for Radnicki Belgrade in the Yugoslavian League.  Although the Point Guard had a nice career and was nominated as a player, he had far more success as a coach at the club level and for Yugoslavia and Serbia, winning three EuroBasket Gold Medals and a FIBA World Gold Medal in 1990.  Why wasn’t he nominated as a Coach?

Danny Crawford (REF).  Crawford was an NBA Referee from 1984 to 2017 and worked 23 straight NBA Finals.

Marques Johnson (PLA).  Johnson helped UCLA win the National Championship in 1975 and two years later, he was the National College Player of the Year.  He was a six-time All-Star (five with Milwaukee and one with the Los Angeles Clippers) with three All-NBAs (one First Team and two Second Teams) and had nearly 14,000 career Points.  Johnson is enshrined in the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Molly Bolin (PLA).  Bolin was one of the biggest stars of the Women’s Professional Basketball League in the late 70s, the first pro basketball league for women.  She was a three-time league All-Star and was the Co-MVP in 1980.

Buck Williams (PLA).  Williams won the 1982 Rookie of the Year Award and was a three-time All-Star in his time with the New Jersey Nets.  He also player for Portland and New York and was a four-time All-Defensive Selection (two First Team and two Second Team) and had 16,784 career Points and 13,017 Rebounds.

Jennifer Azzi (PLA).  Azzi was the Naismith Basketball Player of the Year in 1990, leading Stanford to a National Championship.  She was also on the gold medal-winning 1996 Olympic Women’s Team and won two more gold medals at the FIBA World Championship (1990 & 1998).  She was also inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and was a Naismith Basketball Finalist in 2023.

Mark Few (COA).  Few are arguably the most important men in Gonzaga's history; as of this writing, he is still their head coach.  He took the Bulldogs to two Final Fours (2017 & 2021) and won 19 WCC Tournaments.  He is also a two-time Naismith Coach of the Year and 12-time WCC Coach of the Year.

Sue Bird (PLA).  Bird is one of the best women’s players of all time, boasting the best resume among all candidates regardless of category.  A former Naismith College Player of the Year at UConn and two-time NCAA Champion, Bird played her entire WNBA career with Seattle where she won four WNBA Titles, was a 13-time All-Star, five-time All-WNBA First Team selection, and for the United States won five Gold Medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 & 2020) and four World Championships (2002, 2010, 2014 & 2018).

Maya Moore (PLA).  After a solid career at UConn, Moore had an incredible pro career with the Minnesota Lynx, where she won four WNBA Titles, was the 2014 WNBA MVP, and was a six-time WNBA All-Star.  As a one-time WNBA Scoring and Steals Champion, Moore also won two Olympic Gold medals and two World Championship Gold Medals.

Tal Brody.  Brody played collegiately at Illinois, but after he competed at Maccabiah Games in Israel, he was asked to stay, which led to a successful career where he put Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israeli basketball on the map, which was the tagline he is known for.

Jerry Welsh (COA).  Welsh was the Head Coach at SUNY Potsdam, where he had a record of 494-141 from 1968 to 1991 and won two National Championships in 1981 and 1986.

Billy Donovan (COA).  Currently the Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls, Donovan’s Hall of Fame path lies in the University of Florida, where he took the Gators to four SEC Tournament Championships, four Final Fours, and two NCAA Championships (2006 & 2007).  The three-time SEC Coach of the Year also had stints as the Marshall Head Coach and Oklahoma City Thunder HC.

Dwight Howard (PLA).  Howard was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time All-Star, and a five-time First Team All-Star, most of which were accolades from his early years in Orlando.   He played for the Lakers thrice, winning his only title there in 2020.  Howard also played for Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, and Philadelphia, boasting five Rebounds Titles, two Blocks Titles, and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2008.

Micky Arison:  Arison bought the Miami Heat in 1995, and under his ownership, the Heat won three NBA Championships (2006, 2012 & 2013).

Sylvia Fowles (PLA).  One of the finest defensive players in WNBA history, Fowles split her professional North American career with the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx, the latter of which she won two WNBA Championships and Finals MVPs (2015 & 2017).  A WNBA MVP in 2017, Fowles won four Defensive Player of the Year Awards, an eight-time All-Star, and a three-time First Team All-WNBA Selection.  Internationally, she won four Gold Medals (2008, 2012, 2016 & 2020) and a World Championship (2010).

Carmelo Anthony (PLA).  A member of the NBA 75^th Anniversary Team, Anthony led Syracuse to a National Championship in 2003 and would become a ten-time All-Star and a six-time All-NBA player (two Second Team and three Third Team).  Melo is also a former NBA scoring champion who compiled 28,289 career Points and internationally is a three-time Olympic Gold Medal winner (2008, 2012 & 2016).  He played for Denver, New York, Oklahoma City, Houston, Portland, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Hall also announced that Adrian Wojnarowski won the 2025 Curt Gowdy Insight Award, George Blaha and Clark Kellogg won the 2025 Curt Gowdy Electronic Award, Michelle Smith won the 2025 Curt Gowdy Print Media Award and Jeff Twiss won the 2o25 John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, so this results in a long push to revise what we already have; specifically, now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the first ten of the 2024 Basketball List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 1 to 10:

1. Larry Foust
2. Shawn Kemp
3. Max Zaslofsky
4. Buck Williams
5. Gus Williams
6. Kevin Johnson
7. Marques Johnson
8. Mark Price
9. Bill Laimbeer
10. Mark Aguirre

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

Hall of Fame season continues with the announcement from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame of their nominees,

The Finalists will be announced at All-Star Weekend on February 16 and the Class will be unveiled on April 6 during the Final Four.

Here are the nominees from the varying categories:  *Indicates first time nominee.

North America Nominees:

2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team

Rick Barnes (Coach)

John Beilein (Coach)

Chauncey Billups (Player) (Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com)

*Vince Carter (Player) (Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Tom Chambers (Player) (Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com)

John Clougherty (Referee)

Michael Cooper (Player) (Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Joey Crawford (Referee)

Terry Cummings (Player) (Ranked #20 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Jack Curran (Coach)

*Bobby Dibler (Referee)

Don Donoher (Coach)

*Robert Foley (Coach)

*Mike Gminski (Player)

Lou Henson (Coach)

*Marques Houtman (Player)

Marques Johnson (Player) (Ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Marv Kessler (Coach)

*Bill Laimbeer (Player) (Ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Jim Larranaga (Coach)

*Mike Leonardo (Coach)

Maurice Lucas (Player) (Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Shawn Marion (Player) (Ranked #16 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Rollie Massimino (Coach)

*Bill Morse (Coach)

Dick Motta (Coach)

*Jack Nagle (Coach)

Jim Phelan (Coach)

Bo Ryan (Coach)

*Charles Smith (Coach)

Stan Spirou (Coach)

Reggie Theus (Player) (Ranked #77 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Jerry Welsh (Player)

Buck Williams (Player) (Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com)

John Williamson (Player)

Women’s Nominees:

Leta Andrews (Coach)

*Simone Augustus (Player)

Jennifer Azzi (Player)

*Doug Buono (Coach)

*Cheryl Ford (Player)

Becky Martin (Coach)

Debbie Miller-Palmore (Player)

Marian Washington (Coach)

Dean Weese (Coach)

*Chris Weller (Coach)

*Andrew Yasinoff (Coach)

Contributor Nominees: 

Pete Babcock

Dick Baumgartner

Henry Bibby

Marty Blacke

Vic Bubas

Doug Collins

Wayne Duke

Bill Foster

*Mike Fratello

Bob Gibbons

Simon Gourdine

Tim Grgurich

Justin Kellogg

Johnny “Red” Kerr

Tom Konchalski

Bobby Lewis

Fred McCall

Jack McColoskey

Jon McGlocklin

Speedy Morris

Dennis Murphy

Curly Neal

Jack Powers

Will Robinson

Gene Shue

*Herb Simon

*Scott Tarter

Donnie Walsh

*Jerry West

*World Wheelers

International Nominees

*David Blatt (Coach, Israel)

Tal Brody (Contributor, Israel)

Jean-Kacques Concelcan (Player, Angola/Portugal)

Mirza Delibasic (Player, Yugoslavia/Bosnia)

*Jorge Garbajosa (Player, Spain)

*Andrew Gaze (Player, Australia)

*Panaglotis Gianniks (Player, Greece)

Guiseppe Giergia (Player, Yugoslavia/Bosnia)

Dusan Ivkovic (Player, Yugoslavia/Serbia)

*Andrei Kirilenko (Player, Russia) (Ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Vladimir Kondrashin (Coach, The Soviet Union/Russia)

Marcus Leite (Player, Brazil)

*Ettore Messina (Coach, Italy)

*Juan Carlos Navarro (Player, Spain)

*Andres Nocioni (Player, Argentina)

*Fabricio Oberto (Player, Argentina)

*Jose Ortiz (Player, Puerto Rico)

Amaury Pasos (Player, Brazil)

*Modestas Palauskas (Player, Soviet Union/Russia)

Togo Soares (Coach, Brazil)

*Penny Taylor (Player, Australia)

*Michele Timms (Player, Australia)

*Amaya Valdemoro (Player, Spain)

Ranko Zeravica (Coach, Serbia)

Women’s Veteran Nominees:

1982 Cheyney State NCAA Final Four Team (Team)

Alline Banks Sprousse (Player)

Edmonton Commercial Grads (Team)

John Head (Coach)

Yolanda Laney (Player)

Nashville Business College (Team)

Lorneta Odom (Player)

Harley Redin (Player)

Valerie Walker (Player)

Dean Weese (Coach)

Veteran Nominees::

1936 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team

1972 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team

Dick Barnett (Player) (Ranked #58 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Tom Blackburn (Coach)

*Charles Brown (Player)

Freddie Brown (Player) (Ranked #60 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Jack Coleman (Player)

Leroy Edwards (Player)

Leo Ferris (Contributor)

Travis Grant (Player)

Jack Hartman (Coach)

Cam Henderson (Coach)

Robert Hopkins (Player)

Charles Kelnath (Player)

Greg Kelser (Player)

Kentucky Wesleyan (1966, 1967 & 1969) (Team)

Loyala of Chicago (Team)

*Dan Lynch (Coach)

Billy Markward (Contributor)

Jack McKinney (Contributor)

Bill Melchionni (Player)

Francis Meehan (Player)

Lucias Mitchell (Coach)

Joe Mullaney (Coach)

Willie Naulls (Player) (Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com)

*Ben Newman (Contributor)

*Don Otten (Player)

*Louis Plert (Contributor)

Kevin Porter (Player)

Glenn Roberts (Player)

Lonnie Rosenbluth (Player)

Kenny Sailors (Player)

Fres Schaus (Contributor)

Sam Schulman (Contributor)

Paul Silas (Player) (Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com)

Dick Van Arsdale (Player)

Tom Van Arsdale (Player)

*Cleo Vaughn (Player)

Lambert Will (Contributor)

Max Zaslofsky (Player) (Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com)

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate all of those who made it to this stage.

Days after we completed our amendments of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we finished those our revisions on the Notinhalloffame.com Basketball List.

The first thing that we obviously do with the Basketball List is remove those who were inducted. This took out:

Dirk Nowitzki

Dwyane Wade

Pau Gasol

Tony Parker

We then added those who are worthy who are now eligible for the first time in 2024.

Nowitzki, Wade, Gasol and Parker were ranked 1,2,3 and 5 respectively, which means that we will be seeing a significant change in our top ten.

With those remaining, we factored votes and comments that came from all of you, to alter ranks.

The entire list (115 in total) can be found here, but we always present our top ten!

As is often the case, the #1 spot belongs to a first-year eligible player, and it is no exception now, as Vince Carter is on our mountaintop. While there are obvious flaws in his candidacy, namely his leadership in the first half of his career, this is a man who cemented basketball in Canada, made the Raptors, and was an eight-time All-Star. The man synonymous with spectacular dunks, also is an Olympic Gold Medalist with Team U.S.A.. Carter might not be the best #1 we have ever had, but he is by far and away the best new entrant.

A former #1, and member of the 25^th Anniversary Team, Max Zaslofsky, moves up two spots to #2. Zaslofsky was one of the best players in the late 1940s.

At #3, is Larry Foust, who like Zaslofsky would need to enter via a Direct-Elect Veterans Committee. Rising from #8, Foust has his highest ranking yet, and he brings to the table eight All-Star selections from the 1950s.

Chauncey Billups returns to the top five, climbing two to #4. The former NBA Champion (and Finals MVP) with the Detroit Pistons went to five All-Stars and won World Championship Gold with the United States.

At #5 is Shawn Kemp, who has encountered some legal issues lately, moved up from #7. Kemp was a six-time All-Star, five of which were with the Seattle SuperSonics, and he was also a three-time Second Team All-NBA player. Like Billups, he won World Championship Gold while representing the U.S..

Three-time All-Star and four-time All-Defensive player, Buck Williams, moves from #9 to #6.

Previous Finalist, Kevin Johnson, shot up from #11 to #7. Johnson was a four-time Second Team All-NBA Selection.

Gus Williams had a nice gain from #13 to #8. Williams won an NBA Title with Seattle and was twice an All-Star.

Former Point Guard, Mark Price, enters the top ten at #9, three spots form his previous rank at #12. He was a four-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA Selection.

Rounding up the top ten is Marques Johnson, who also rose on the list, with his jump coming from #14. Johnson was a five-time All-Star, and a College Player of the Year at UCLA, where he won a National Championship.

Aside from Carter, there are only two new entrants on the list, which are:

Joakim Noah, a former Defensive Player of the Year and NCAA Champion with Florida, who debuts at #37.

The underrated and long-serving Tyson Chandler, makes his first appearance at #40.

You know what we want you to do!

Cast your votes, offer your opinions, and as always, we thank you for your support!

It is NBA All-Star Game weekend, and those who are into Halls of Fame know exactly what that means!

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the Finalists for the Class of 2022.

The Finalists are:

Leta Andrews:  Andrews is one of the most successful basketball high school coaches of all-time, coaching from 1962 to 2014 with a lifetime record of 1,416-355.  She is already a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and has been a Finalist three times before.

Swin Cash:  Cash was a two-time NCAA Champion at Connecticut and a three-time WNBA Champion, two with Detroit and one with Seattle.  Cash was also a four-time All-Star. WNBA 20^th and 25^th Anniversary Team Selection, and is also a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist with America.  Cash is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Michael Cooper:  Playing all of his 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cooper helped L.A. win five NBA Titles, while earning five NBA All-Defensive Selections and the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year.

Hugh Evans:  Evans was an NBA referee from 1972 to 2001 and he officiated in 35 NBA Finals Games.

Manu Ginobili:  Playing his entire pro career with the San Antonio Spurs, Ginobili helped take the team to four NBA Championships, while individually going to two All-Star Games.  Internationally, Ginobili led Argentina to Olympic Gold in 2004, Olympic Bronze in 2008, and he also took his country to Silver at the 2002 FIBA World Cup.  He has an excellent shot of entering as a first ballot inductee.

Tim Hardaway:  Hardaway was a former WAC Player of the Year at UTEP, and professionally was a five-time All-Star known for his time in Golden State and Miami.  A five-time All-NBA player, Hardaway also won Gold for the United States at the 2000 Olympics.

Bob Huggins:  Huggins took Cincinnati to the Final Four in 1992, and West Virginia in 2010.  Still coaching the Mountaineers today, Huggins presently has a career record of 913-393.

Marques Johnson:  Johnson won the NCAA Title at UCLA in 1975 and was named the National College Player of the Year in 1977.  Professionally, he had his best seasons with Milwaukee, where he went to four All-Star Games, and was twice a Second Team All-NBA player.  Johnson also played for the Clippers, where he went to his fifth All-Star Game.

George Karl: Karl is one of nine NBA Coaches wo have won 1,000 Games with a Coach of the Year Award (2013 with Denver).  He also was the Head Coach for Seattle, Milwaukee and Sacramento with a lifetime record of 1,175-824.

Marianne Stanley:  Stanley coached Old Dominion to a National Championship in 1985, and she also coached Penn, USC, Stanford and California.  In the WNBA, she was named the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2002 with Washington, and she is currently the Head Coach of the Indiana Fever.  Stanley is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Lindsay Whalen:  Whalen was one of the best women’s player in Golden Gopher history, and she went on to have a stellar WNBA career, winning four titles with the Minnesota Lynx, earning three First Team All-Star selections and five trips to the WNBA All-Star Games.  She was also named to the WNBA 20^th and 25^th Anniversary Team and internationally she won two Olympic Gold Medals with the United States (2012 & 2016).

Also announced was the following:

Reggie Minton won the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dick Ebersol won he Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award 

Mechelle Voepel won the Curt Gowdy Media Award.

Walt Frazier won the Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the four new Award winners and this year’s Finalists.

Six names for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame have been revealed byESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowskiand let’s just get right to who they are:

Al Attles:  Attles played for the Philadelphia /San Francisco Warriors for over a decade but midway through the 1969/70 Season he would become the Warriors Player/Coach making him one of the first African-American Coaches in the National Basketball Association.  He hung up the shoes a year later but was their Head Coach until 1983 where he would take them to the Championship in 1975 and compiled a 588-548 record.

Chuck Cooper:  Cooper made history as the first African-American to be drafted in the NBA, which occurred when Boston Celtics chose him with their Second Round Pick (14^thOverall) in 1950.  Cooper played for Duquesne collegiately and was in the NBA for seven seasons (Boston 1950-54), Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954-56) and Fort Wayne (1956).  Cooper faced intense prejudice as he would often have to stay in separate hotels and dine separately from his teammates. Cooper was chosen by the direct-elect Early African-American Pioneers Committee.

Vlade Divac:  An NBA All Star in 2001, Vlade Divac had over 13,000 Points over his career and would take Yugoslavia to many championships, most notably a win at the 1990 World Cup. Divac is Serbian and has been known for his humanitarian efforts and he is currently the General Manager of the Sacramento Kings.  He was ranked #24 by us on Notinhalloffame.com and he enters via the International Committee. 

Bobby Jones:  A Second Team All American from North Carolina, Bobby Jones began his pro career with the Denver Nuggets of the ABA in 1974 and would later join the Philadelphia 76ers until he retired in 1986.  Jones would go to four All Star Games was named to eight First Team All Defensive squads was the first ever Sixth Man of the Year and in 1983 he helped the Sixers with the NBA Title.  Jones was ranked #14 on our latest Notinhalloffame.com list.

Sidney Moncreif:  Moncrief was a First Team All-American and SWC Player of the Year in 1979 and in the NBA he was a two time Defensive Player of the Year (1983 & 1984) and was a five time All Star (1982-86). Moncreif played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and he was ranked #2 on our latest Notinhalloffame.com list.

Paul Westphal:  Westphal would help the Boston Celtics win the 1974 NBA Championship and from 1977 to 1981 he was named an All Star with three of those seasons (1977, 1979 & 1980) seeing him named a First Team All Pro while he was with the Phoenix Suns. He was ranked #15 on our last Notinhalloffame.com list.

Wojnarowski also announced that Chris Webber, Ben Wallace and Marques Johnson were not chosen.

For us Webber’s induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame is long overdue and we are guessing that they are wiping out his accomplishments at the University of Michigan due to the booster scandal he was involved in. 

Next year is absolutely loaded as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett are now eligible. We will be updating our Notinhalloffame.com Basketball list next month.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the six men who have been reported to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

As is tradition every NBA All Star Weekend, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces the Finalists for their impending Hall of Fame Class.

The Finalists are:

Hugh Evans (Referee):  Evans officiated nearly 2,000 regular season games and 170 playoff games in the NBA from 1972 to 2001.

Bill Fitch (Coach):  Fitch coached in the NBA for 25 seasons and he was named the Coach of the Year in 1976 and 1980.  In 1981, he would take the Boston Celtics to the NBA Championship.  

Marques Johnson (Player):  A five time All Star and First Team All NBA Selection in 1979, Marques Johnson was a champion at UCLA in 1975 and was named the National College Player of the Year in 1977.  He is ranked #29on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Jones (Player):  Jones was named an All Defensive First Team player eight times (1977 to 1984) and was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers 1983 Championship Team.  Collegiately, Jones took the University of North Carolina to a Final Four in 1972.  He is ranked #14on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Sidney Moncrief (Player):A five time All Star (1982 to 1986), Sidney Moncrief was a two time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1983 & 1984) was also an All-American at the University of Arkansas.  He is ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Sikma (Player):Sikma was chosen for seven straight All Star Games (1979 to 1985) and would help the Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship in 1979.  He is ranked #3on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Eddie Sutton (Coach):Sutton is a four time National Coach of the Year (1977, 1978, 1986 & 1995) and he made history as the first coach to take four different schools to the National Tournament.  At present he is seventh all time in wins in the NCAA.

Ben Wallace (Player):  Wallace is a four time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005 & 2006) and a four time All Star (2003-06) would help the Detroit Pistons shock the world when they won the NBA Championship in 2004.  He is ranked #4on Notinhalloffame.com

Chris Webber (Player):  The leader of Michigan’s “Fab Five” would become a five time All Star (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003) and a two time First Team All-NBA Selection.  He is ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Paul Westphal (Player):  Westphal would help the Boston Celtics win the NBA Championship in 1974 and would later be chosen for five NBA All Star Games (1977-81) and earned three First Team All NBA Selections (1977, 1979 & 1980).  He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Women’s Committee Finalists are:

Leta Andrews (Coach):  Andrews coached high school basketball for over 50 years and would win multiple championships at that level.

Barbara Stevens (Coach):  Stevens is a veteran of college coaching for over 40 years and she has been a Division II National Coach of the Year five times and was a National Champion in 2014 with Bentley University.

Teresa Weatherspoon (Player):  A five time WNBA All Star (1999-2003), Weatherspoon was also a two time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.   She was also a champion in the NCAA (Louisiana Tech 1988) and the Olympics (United States 1988)

The Naismith Class of 2019 will be announced during the Final Four.

With Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett on the horizon this is the year that the former players who are Finalists this year need to get enshrined for fear of a much longer waiting period.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com will certainly be paying close attention to what transpires next at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame!

The Basketball Hall of Fame shocked us yesterday with their announcement that former players are now eligible three years after retirement. As such, it rendered our Notinhalloffame.com Basketball list invalid and has also created a loaded list of nominees.

Let’s get right to the nominees for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018:

Oh…and be patient…It is quite the long list

Players (North American Committee):

Mark Aguirre: Aguirre is a two time NBA Champion with the Pistons and was also a three time NBA All Star. In 1980 at DePaul he was named the Naismith College Player of the Year.

 

Ray Allen: The king of the three point shot is a two time NBA Champion

(Boston 2008 & Miami 2013) and is 24th all-time in scoring. Allen was also a ten time All Star and was the 1996 Big East Player of the Year.

Chauncey Billups: The motor of the surprise Detroit Pistons 2004 NBA Title team and a seven time All Star. He was the Finals MVP in ’04.

Muggsy Bogues: Bogues was a fifteen year NBA veteran most notably with the Charlotte Hornets.

Maurice Cheeks: Cheeks won the NBA Title with the Sixers in 1983 and was a four time All Star. He was also a four time First Team All-Defensive Selection.

Richard Hamilton: “Rip” was another member of the 2004 Detroit Pistons team and was a NCAA Champion and Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 Tournament.

Tim Hardaway: A five time NBA All Star, Tim Hardaway was also a five time All-NBA Selection.

Grant Hill: A two time champion at Duke, Hill was a seven time NBA All Star. Considering his rash of injuries the fact that he played eighteen years professionally is a testament to his dedication to the game of Basketball.

Kevin Johnson: K.J. is a three time NBA All Star and a four time Second Team All NBA Selection.

Marques Johnson: Johnson was a NCAA Champion at UCLA in 1975 and was named the National College Player of the Year in 1977. He was also a five time NBA All Star.

Bobby Jones: Jones was an NBA Champion with the Sixers in 1983 and was an eight time First Team NBA All Defensive Selection. He also was a four time All Star and a Sixth Man of the Year.

Steve Nash: Easily the biggest beneficiary from the new rule change, Nash should be a first ballot inductee. The Canadian Point Guard is a former two-time MVP and an eight time All Star. He is also third all-time in Assists.

Jason Kidd: Kidd, who is now coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, was also an elite Point Guard who was a ten time All Star. Second all-time in Assists, Kidd won a title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

Sidney Moncrief: Moncrief is a two time NBA Defensive Player of the Year who also was chosen for five All Star Games. The former Milwaukee Buck was also a one time All-NBA First Team and four time All-NBA Second Team Selection.

Jack Sikma: Sikma helped Seattle win the NBA Championship in 1979 and was a seven time All Star.

Ben Wallace: Wallace was an NBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Wallace was a four time All Star and a four time Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a two time Rebounding Champion.

Chris Webber: A legend from the University of Michigan “Fab Five”, Chris Webber also was the NBA Rookie of the Year (1994) and a five time All-NBA Selection.

Paul Westphal: Westphal won the NBA Title in 1974 with the Boston Celtics and was also a five time All Star. He also was chosen for the First Team All-NBA three times.

Quite the group of players right?

That isn’t all.

Below are the following nominees in other categories:

Coaches:

Lefty Driesell: Driesell had a coaching record of 786 and 394 and is a two time ACC Coach of the Year.

Steve Fisher: Fisher is the current Head Coach at San Diego State and won the NCAA Title in 1989 with Michigan State. He was also named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 2011.

Bill Fitch: Fitch was a two time NBA Coach of the Year and win the NBA Title with the Boston Celtics in 1981.

Cotton Fitzsimmons: A legendary figure with the Phoenix Suns, Fitzsimmons was a two time NBA Coach of the Year, one with Phoenix the other with the Kansas City Kings.

Bob Huggins: Huggins is the current Head Coach at West Virginia an has a record of 832 – 332.

Jerry “Tiger” Jones: A long time Coach in Girl’s High School Basketball. He coached in the Seattle area.

Gene Keady: A seven time Big Ten Coach of the Year and five time National Coach of the Year, Gene Keady has a career record of 550 – 289.

Ken Kern: A former Head Coach at Fort Hamilton High in Brooklyn.

Rollie Massimo: Massimo is already a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame (2013) and is still coaching at Keiser. He led Villanova to the Division I Title in 1985 and has a NCAA record of 816 – 462.

Gary McKnight: The longtime and current Head Coach at Mater Dei Varsity in Santa Ana, California.

Danny Miles: Miles was the Head Coach at Oregon Tech from 1971 to 2016 and had a record of 1,040 – 437. He won three NAIA Division II Titles.

Dick Motta: Motta coached the Washington Bullets to the 1978 Title and was also a former Coach of the Year (1971).

Jim Phelan: Phelan was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and took St. Mary’s to a title in 1962.

Lee Rose: Rose has an overall NCAA record of 228 – 105 and took the UNC Charlotte 49ers to a Final Four Appearance in 1977.

Bo Ryan: Ryan was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017 and took Wisconsin-Platteville to four Division III Titles. He would later take Wisconsin to two Final Four Appearances. His overall record is 747 – 233.

Bob Saulsbury: Saulsbury was a longtime Head Coach at Wilbur Cross.

Steve Smith: From the famed Oak Hill Academy, Steve Smith has been named the USA Today National Coach of the Year four times and nine times have been declared the National High School Champions.

Harry Statham: Statham has been the Head Coach of McKendree since 1966 and has an overall record of 1,147 – 499.

Eddie Sutton: Sutton was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and is a two time AP Coach of the Year. He has reached three Final Fours.

Rudy Tomjanovich: A five time All Star as a player, “Rudy T” took the Houston Rockets to back-to-back titles in 1994 to 1995.

Willie West: West was a longtime coach at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles.

Referees:

Irv Brown: Brown officiated six Final Fours.

Jim Burch: Burch broke the color barrier for referees in the ACC.

Hugh Evans: Evans was a referee in the NBA from 1972 to 2001. He refereed 35 NBA Finals Games.

Ed Hightower: Hightower refereed 12 Final Fours.

Jake O’Donnell: O’Donnell was an NBA ref for twenty-eight years from 1967 to 1995.

Women’s Nominees:

Leta Andrews: Andrews is the winningest United States High School Women’s Coach.

Jennifer Azzi: Azzi played for Stanford and was a member of the 1996 U.S. Women’s Gold Medal Team. She would later play in the WNBA and was a coach at the University of San Francisco.

Becky Hammon: A former six time WNBA All Star and a two time WNBA First Team Selection, Hammon made history as the first female coach of an NBA Team (San Antonio) three years ago.

Suzie McConnell-Serio: A former player at Penn State, McConnell-Serio is a former WNBA Coach of the Year and is the current Head Coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pearl Moore: Moore was a star in the former Women’s Professional Basketball League.

Kim Mulkey: Mulkey was a former player at Louisiana Tech and has been the Head Coach at Baylor since 2000. She has won the NCAA title twice (2005 & 2012).

Harley Redin: Redin coached Wayland Baptist University to six AAU National Titles. He compiled a 431 – 66 record over eighteen years.

Theresa Shank: Shank won back-to-back-to-back titles with Immaculata (1972-74) and has a Head Coaching record of 671 – 309.

Katie Smith: Smith was a two time WNBA Champion and a two time All-WNBA First Team Selection. She was also the scoring champion in 2001. Currently, Katie Smith is the Head Coach of the New York Liberty.

Marianne Stanley: Stanley was the 2002 WNBA Coach of the Year, though she has been mostly a valued Assistant Coach throughout her career.

Barbara Stevens: Stevens has been the Head Coach for Bentley University since 1986 after previously coaching Clark University and UMass. She has an overall record of 928 – 262 and is a five time Division II Coach of the Year.

Valerie Still: Still was a former star at the University of Kentucky.

Tina Thompson: From USC, Tina Thompson made history as the first ever WNBA Draft Pick. Thompson was a nine time WNBA All Star and four time WNBA Champion. She is also a two time Gold Medalist at the Olympics (2004 & 2008).

Wayland Baptist Women’s Team: (1953-58) This team won 131 Games in a row.

Teresa Weatherspoon: Weatherspoon won the NCAA Title in 1988 for Louisiana Tech and in the WNBA would be a four time WNBA All Star and two time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She also won a Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympics.

Direct-Elect Category: Early African-American Pioneers Nominees:

Clarence “Puggy” Bell: Bell played for the New York Rens and was the 1939 MVP in the World Professional Basketball Tournament.

Sonny Boswell: Boswell was a former Harlem Globetrotter from 1939 to 1942 and was the MVP of the 1940 World Professional Basketball Tournament.

Chuck Cooper: Cooper was a star at Duquesne and was one of the first African-American players in the NBA. He was with the Celtics from 1950 to 1954.

Bill Garrett: Garrett made history as the first African-American player in the Big Ten when he started for the University of Indiana. He was the third black player to be drafted in the NBA and was a former Harlem Globetrotter.

Inman Jackson: Jackson was a Harlem Globetrotter from 1930 to 1945.

Clarence “Fats” Jenkins: Jenkins played for the New York Rens and also the Chicago Crusaders.

Bucky Lew: Lew started playing professionally in 1902.

Dave Minor: Minor played at UCLA and was in the NBA for three seasons in the early 1950’s.

Hudson Oliver: Oliver was a great African-American player in the early 1900’s.

Al “Runt” Pullins: Historically speaking Al “Runt” Pullins was an integral part of the growth of the Harlem Globetrotters and pound for pound was on the best players of his day.

James “Pappy” Ricks: Ricks was an original member of the New York Rens and played for them from 1932 to 1936.

Paul Robeson: A true renaissance man (Robeson was more famous for his singing), Paul Robeson was actually athletically more known for Football. In terms of hoops, Robeson played for the first all-black professional basketball team, the Commonwealth Big Five of Harlem.

Eyre Saitch: Saitch was a member of the New York Rens and was part of the first black team to win a World Championship.

Wee Willie Smith: Smith was a member of the New York Rens from 1932 to 1936 and was one of the few black players to compete in the NBL.

Direct-Elect Category: International Nominees:

 

Tal Brody: Brody was the 12th overall pick in the NBA but he elected to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv over his career, which lasted from 1966 to 1980. He is already a member of the Israeli Basketball Hall of Fame.

Jackie Chazalon: Chazalon played for the French National Women’s Team from 1963 to 1976. She entered the FIBA HOF in 2009.

Vlade Divac: Divac was an NBA All Star who internationally represented Yugoslavia. He won a Silver Medal in the 1988 Olympics and the FIBA World Cup in 1990 and 2002.

Alphonso Ford. An American who played at Mississippi Valley State, Ford found success in Europe and was a two time EuroLeague top scorer and Greek League MVP.

Semen Khalipski: Khalipski is a National Coach in Belarus.

Vladimir Kondrashin: Kondrashin coached the Soviet Union to a Gold Medal in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

Toni Kukoc: Known mostly for being a three time NBA Champion with the Chicago Bulls, Kukoc is also a three time EuroLeague Champion, FIBA World Cup MVP and EuroBasket MVP. He also won the Silver Medal with Yugoslavia in the 1988 Olympics and the Gold in the 1990 World Cup.

Marcos Leite: Leite represented Brazil in the 1980 & 1984 Olympics and helped his country win the Pan American Games in 1971.

Aldo Ossola: From Italy, Aldo Ossola played on seven Italian League Champions and five FIBA European Champions Cup teams.

Amaury Pasos: From Brazil, Amaury Pasos was a two time Brazilian League Champion and was a FIBA World Cup MVP in 1959.

Dan Peterson: Peterson might be an American, but it was in Italy where he made his mark in Coaching. He is a five time Italian League Champion, three time Italian Cup Champion and one time EuroLeague Champion.

Dino Radja: Radja played three and a half years for the Celtics, but in Europe he was a two time EuroLeague Champion and a EuroLeague Final Four MVP (1989). He also won two Silver Medals in the Olympics for Yugoslavia as well as a Gold in the 1990 World Cup.

Manuel Sainz: Sainz is a legendary figure in Spanish Basketball, specifically Real Madrid. Sainz was a player for the team from 1961 to 1969 and following his playing career he would work his way to become the teams Head Coach. He would also coach the Spanish National Team.

Togo Soares: Soares coached the Brazilian National Team from 1951 to 1971 and took them to a Gold Medal win in 1959 and 1963 at the FIBA World Cup. He also won a Bronze Medal in the 1960 Olympics.

Ranko Zeravica: Zeravica was the Head Coach for the Yugoslavian Men’s Team for years. He took Yugoslavia to a Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympics and to a Gold in the 1970 World Cup. He also took his country to a Silver Medal in the 1968 Olympics.

Direct-Elect Category: Contributor Nominees:

 

Marv Albert: Albert has been the voice of the New York Knicks for the past thirty-seven years and has worked for NBC and TNT.

Al Attles: After a successful playing career, Attles was a Coach for the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors for thirteen years.

Dick Baumgartner: Baumgartner has been a Coach in Indiana for over 50 years.

Henry Bibby: Bibby was a two-time CBA Coach of the Year and was a former Head Coach at Stamford.

Marty Blake: Blake was the former General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks and was also the Director of Scouting for the NBA for many years.

Vic Bubas: Bubas had a career coaching record at Duke of 213-67 and was a three time ACC Coach of the Year.

Wayne Duke: Duke was the Commissioner of the Big Eight Conference (1963 to 1971) and later the Big Ten Conference (1971-88).

Harry Glickman: Glickman was a co-founder of the Portland Trail Blazers and was the team President from 1987 to 1994.

Marty Glickman: Glickman was a broadcaster for the New York Knicks and later New Jersey Nets.

Simon Gourdine: The former Deputy Commissioner of the NBA and highest ranking black official in major sports in the 1970’s.

Curt Gowdy: Gowdy broadcast many games for NBC both in pro games and college.

Tim Grgurich: Grgurich was a former Head Coach at the University of Pittsburgh and was also a long time Assistant in the NBA.

Del Harris: Harris was named the NBA Coach of the Year with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1995.

Greg Heineman: Heineman is the owner of the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Robert Indiana: Indiana painted the court that the Milwaukee Bucks had at the MECCA Arena.

Johnny “Red” Kerr: A three time NBA All Star, Kerr would be the Coach of the Year in 1967 with the Bulls. He would broadcast for the Bulls for twenty-two years.

Bill King: Along with being the voice of the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics, Bill King was also the play by play announcer for the Golden State Warriors in the 60’s and 70’s.

John Kline: A former Harlem Globetrotter John Kline founded the Black Legends of Professional Basketball in 1966.

Red Klotz: A champion with the Baltimore Bullets in 1948, Red Klotz formed and played for the Washington Generals.

Jack McCloskey: A Head Coach at Penn (1956-66), Wake Forest (1966-72) and the Portland Trail Blazers (1972-74), “Trader” Jack McCloskey was far more known for his role as a General Manager for Portland and the Detroit Pistons. McCloskey Would build the team in Detroit that was a mini-dynasty.

Jerry McHale: A noted orthotic doctor who has worked a lot with NBA players.

Johnny Most: Most was the radio voice of the Boston Celtics from 1953 to 1990.

Dennis Murphy: Murphy co-founded the American Basketball Association.

Joe O’Toole: O’Toole is considered to be the catalyst for the creation of the National Basketball Trainers Association.

Billy Packer: Packer has been one of the most known College Basketball Analysts over the past thirty years.

Jack Powers: Powers played for the Manhattan Jaspers, and would later become their Coach and then their Athletic Director.

Dee Rowe: Rowe used to be the Head Coach at the University of Connecticut from 1969 to 1977 and following that he remained a part of the institution for decades.

Zelda Spoelstra: Spoelstra had worked for the NBA for decades serving in multiple duties.

Rod Thorn: Thorn was an NBA Player for eight years and an NBA Coach for another eight. Afterwards he was the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations but would leave to GM the Nets where he would become the Executive of the Year in 2002. He is currently the NBA President of Basketball of Operations.

Jim Valvano: “Jimmy V” famously coached NC State to the 1983 Division I Championship. His overall coaching record was 346 – 210.

Donnie Walsh: Walsh is currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Pacers and had that role with the New York Knicks previously.

Rick Welts: Welts is the current President and Chief of Operations for the Golden State Warriors. Previously he worked for the NBA and is credited for the creation of the NBA All Star Weekend and the marketing of the 1992 U.S. Dream Team.

Direct-Elect Category: Veterans Nominees:

 

1936 United States Olympic Team: The ’36 team won Gold at the Berlin Olympics.

1964 State Department Basketball Ambassadors.

Ron Boone: Boone was a four time ABA All Star and ABA Champion in 1971.

Sid Borgia: Borgia was a referee in the NBA from 1946 to 1964. He would later serve as the Chief of Officials the next two years.

Carl Braun: Braun was a five time NBA All Star.

Frank Brian: Brian was a star at LSU and would later be a two time NBA All Star.

Joe Caldwell: Caldwell was a two time NBA All Star and also a two time ABA All Star.

Mack Calvin: Calvin was a five time ABA All Star who was also a member of the ABA All Time Team.

Jack Coleman: A one time NBA All Star, Coleman was a two time NBA Champion, one with Rochester and one with St. Louis.

Bob Dandridge: A two time NBA Champion (one with Milwaukee and one with Washington) Bob Dandridge also was a four time All Star.

Charles Eckman: Eckman was the Head Coach for the Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons from 1954 to 1957.

Leroy Edwards: Edwards was a three time NBL Scoring Champion and two time NBL Champion.

Leo Ferris: Credited with creating the 24 second shot clock, Ferris also was the founder of the Buffalo Bisons, which evolved into the Atlanta Hawks.

Clarence “Bevo” Francis: Francis was an elite scorer at Rio Grande in the early 50’s.

Buck Freeman: Freeman was the longtime coach of St. John’s University.

Donnie Freeman: Freeman was an ABA Champion with the Indiana Pacers in 1973 and was also a five time ABA All Star.

Travis Grant: Grant was at one time the highest scorer in NCAA history during his career at Kentucky State. He is already in the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bob Grody: Grody played in various leagues in the 1920’s and 30’s.

Robert Harrison: Harrison was a three time NBA Champion with the Minneapolis Lakers and was also an All Star in 1956.

Flo Harvey: Harvey played for multiple teams in the Rhode Island area in the 1900’s to 20’s.

Dick Hemric: Hemric was an NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics in 1957 and was also a two-time ACC Player of the Year.

Cam Henderson: Hendeson (who was also a Football Coach) coached college hoops from 1919 to 1955 and would win the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship in 1947.

Robert Hopkins: Hopkins was a major star at Grambling State in the mid 1950’s.

Lou Hudson: Hudson was a six time All Star who spent the bulk of his career with the St.Louis/Atlanta Hawks.

Warren Jabali: Jabali was an ABA Champion and Playoff MVP with the Oakland Oaks in 1969. He was also a four time ABA All Star.

Jimmy Jones: Jones was a six time ABA All Star and three time First Team All-ABA Selection.

Charles Keinath: Kenaith was a four time All-American at Penn and was the Helms National Player of the Year in 2008.

Freddie Lewis: Lewis was a three time ABA Champion with the Indiana Pacers and a four time ABA All Star. He was also the 1972 ABA Playoff MVP.

Jim Loscutoff: Loscutoff played for the Boston Celtics from 1955 to 1964 and won seven NBA Titles.

Loyola of Chicago:

Billy Markward: Markward played professionally in the 1900’s and would coach the Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia for forty years after. He would win twenty championships as a Coach.

Ed McCluskey: McCluskey was the very successful Head Coach at Farrell High School in Pennsylvania.

Ray Mears: Mears had a career coaching record of 399 – 135 in a combined career with Wittenberg and the University of Tennessee.

Francis Meehan: Francis “Stretch” Meehan was a pro from the mid-10’s to the late 20’s and at 6’ 7’’ was one of the first tall men in the game.

Dudley Moore: Moore was the Head Coach at Duquesne from 1948 to 1958 and would take the team to the NIT Title in 1955. Also coaching at LaSalle from ’58 to 1963, Moore had an overall record of 270 – 107.

Willie Naulls: Naulls was a star at UCLA and would become a three time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics. Naulls would also be a four time All Star.

Philadelphia Sphas: The team existed from 1917 to 1955 and would win 10 Championships.

Mel Riebe: Riebe was the 1944 NBL Rookie of the Year and was also a two time NBL Scoring Champion (1944 & 1945).

Glenn Roberts: Roberts was one of the first players to utilize the jump shot and was also a Champion in the NBL in 1939.

Holcombe Rucker: Rucker founded the New York City pro-am basketball tournament in Harlem.

Kenny Sailors: An NCAA Champion and Tournament Outstanding Player from 1943 Kenny Sailors was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Fred Schaus: Schaus was an All Star as a Fort Wayne Piston in 1954 and would have a long career in College and the Pros where he led Purdue to a NIT Title and had a seven year run helming the Lakers. He was also a four time Southern Conference Coach of the Year at West Virginia. In addition, he has an NBA Championship ring as an executive from the Lakers Title win in 1972.

Charlie Scott: Charlie Scott was chosen for five All Star Games; two in the ABA and three in the NBA. Scott was also the ABA Rookie of the Year (1971) and was a champion in the NBA with the Boston Celtics (1976).

Kenny Sears: Sears was a two time All Star and holds the distinction of being the first basketball player to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Frank Selvy: A two time NBA All Star, Frank Selvy holds the record for the most points in a NCAA Division I Game with 100. Naturally, he is a two time NCAA Division I Scoring Champion.

George Senesky: Senesky was Division I Scoring Champion at St. Joseph’s (1943) and was a BAA Champion with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947. He would later be the team’s Head Coach and won the NBA Title in 1956.

Charles Siler: Siler was part of the origin of the game contributing with the developing the rules of the game.

Talvin Skinner: Skinner was a rebounding machine at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Professional he played three years with the Seattle SuperSonics.  

Ken Suesens: Suesens played for Sheboygan in the NBL for eleven years and was a champion in 1943.

Tennessee A&I:

Dick Van Arsdale: Van Arsdale was a three time NBA All Star with the Phoenix Suns.

Tom Van Arsdale: The twin of Dick Van Arsdale, Tom was also a three time All Star. His was with Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City Kings.

Willie Wise: Wise was an ABA Champion 1971 with the Utah Stars and was a three time ABA All Star.

Max Zaslofsky: Zaslofsky was a four time All-NBA First Team Selection (1947-50) and was the Scoring Champion in 1948.

The Finalists will be announced during NBA All Star Weekend and during the Final Four the Class of 2018 will be announced.

With all of these changes, we look to revise our Notinhalloffame.com Basketball List by the end of this year.

Marques Johnson played college basketball at UCLA and was a member of the last championship team of the great Bruin dynasty under legendary coach John Wooden in 1975.  Johnson was a great college player winning the first ever John Wooden college basketball player of the year award in 1977 and gained consensus first team All-American honors.  Selected 3rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, Johnson quickly became a star under Coach Don Nelson.  In his second season he averaged 25.6 points a game which was good for third in the league and earned first team All NBA honors.  Johnson helped the Bucks win 5 straight division titles in the early 80's but they never could get over the hump of beating the dominant Philadelphia 76ers or Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference to make the Finals.